News LIVE: Ironman 70.3 St. George; photo gallery

Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Champions St. George 2017 from L-R: British athletes Alistair Brownlee and Holly Lawrence. Finish line on Main Street in Historic Downtown St. George, Utah, May 6, 2017 | Photos by Sheldon Demke, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Nearly 2,500 triathletes from all over the world aim to cross the finish line Saturday in the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George, which got underway just after dawn. Championships were established among the pros with British competitors Alistair Brownlee and Holly Lawrence winning the race in their respective men’s and women’s pro classes.

Saturday’s competitors range in age from 18-77, come from 31 countries and 43 states, with 587 of them from Utah.

The race begins at Sand Hollow Reservoir in Hurricane with professional men’s and women’s class athletes in the swim at 6:5o and 6:54 a.m. just 21 minutes after sunrise – moved up by 10 minutes this year.

Organizers are trying to get everyone on the course faster due to wind predictions. Start times for the various divisions are scheduled in 21 successive waves, closer together than previously.

At 6 a.m. it’s about 70 degrees outside, 60 degrees in the water.

The course includes a 1.2-mile swim, followed by a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run. Competitors have eight hours, 30 minutes to complete the race after the final swim wave. For more details, see the Athlete Guide.

Last year, Canadian professionals Lionel Sanders and heather Wurtele won the race, Sanders finishing in 3 hours, 48 minutes, 18 seconds, Wurtele in 4:16:48 – her second Ironman 70.3 win in St. George. Sanders competes again today

Personal accomplishment, personal best, Ironman pro points, qualifying for future Ironman races, bragging rights and of course a medal are among the many reasons people compete – for the winners: a $100,000 professional prize purse and 75 age-group qualifying slots for the 2017 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Also, first out of the water in 26 age-group categories will receive a $50 gift card from Roka sports performance gear retailer.

Results follow the photo gallery.

Watch for more photos and video to publish separately.

Photos in the gallery appear in reverse order with the most recent first.

Click on photo to enlarge, use left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.

Alex McCrohan from Tucson, Arizona, is the first from age-group divisions to cross the finish line, he in the second 40-45 age group. Age-group divisions started after the men's and women's pros were underway at Sand Hollow Reservoir in Hurricane. There were 19 waves of age-groupers the first starting at 7:01 a.m., with each subsequent division spaced two minutes apart. Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Champions St. George. Finish line on Main Street in Historic Downtown St. George, Utah, May 6, 2017 | Photos by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Top 3 women's pro finishers: From L-R: South African Jeanni Seymour (2nd place), British Holly Lawrence (1st place), Australian Ellie Salthouse (2nd place). Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Champion St. George. Finish line on Main Street in Historic Downtown St. George, Utah, May 6, 2017 | Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News

Jeanni Seymour finishes second with a time of 4:15:12 followed by Ellie Salthouse at 4:22:25, finishing out the Top 3 women's pro athletes in on Saturday's Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George, where Holly Lawrence finished with a strong first. Finish line on Main Street in Historic Downtown St. George, Utah, May 6, 2017 | Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News

Holly Lawrence after the win. Pro woman athlete, new Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Champion St. George. This is Lawrence's first win in St. George, but she placed second last year. Finish line on Main Street in Historic Downtown St. George, Utah, May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Holly Lawrence comes in first among women's pro athletes in Saturday's Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Lawrence, who placed second in the 2016 Ironman 70.3 St. George, commanded the race handily throughout. Finish line on Main Street in Historic Downtown St. George, Utah, May 6, 2017 | Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News

Tim Don, fourth pro man to finish the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Champion St. George. Finish line on Main Street in Historic Downtown St. George, Utah, May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Tim Don, fourth pro man to finish the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Champion St. George. Finish line on Main Street in Historic Downtown St. George, Utah, May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Top 3 men's pro finishers take the winner's podium. From L-R: Sebastian Kienle (3rd place), Alistair Brownlee (1st place), Lionel Sanders (2nd place). Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Champion St. George. Finish line on Main Street in Historic Downtown St. George, Utah, May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

British athlete Alistair Brownlee is the new Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Champion St. George, crossing the finish line with a new course record, Canadian Lionel Sanders right behind him followed by Sebastian Kienle and Tim Don. Brownlee maintained the lead through the triathlon, his first official Ironman 70.3 event. He's not new, however, to the sport. He won Gold medals in 2012 and 2016 at the Olympic Games. Finish line on Main Street in Historic Downtown St. George, Utah, May 6, 2017 | Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News

British athlete Alistair Brownlee is the new Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Champion St. George, crossing the finish line with a new course record, Canadian Lionel Sanders right behind him followed by Sebastian Kienle and Tim Don. Brownlee maintained the lead through the triathlon, his first official Ironman 70.3 event. He's not new, however, to the sport. He won Gold medals in 2012 and 2016 at the Olympic Games. Finish line on Main Street in Historic Downtown St. George, Utah, May 6, 2017 | Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News

Jeanni Seymour, the second woman pro athlete through T-2, the transition from bike to run in Saturday's Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Historic Downtown St. George, Utah, May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Jeanni Seymour, the second woman pro athlete through T-2, the transition from bike to run in Saturday's Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Historic Downtown St. George, Utah, May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Holly Lawrence, women's pro is first to transition to the running phase of Saturday's Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Lawrence, who placed second in the 2016 Ironman 70.3 St. George, has commanded this race handily thus far. Transition 2 in Historic Downtown St. George, Utah, May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Men's pro Trevor Wurtele begins the final phase of Saturday's Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Transition 2 in Historic Downtown St. George, Utah, May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Men's pros Sebastian Kienle and Lionel Sanders start their 13.1-mile run, the final phase of Saturday's Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Although Alistair Brownlee maintained a steady lead through the cycling phase of the race, Sanders topped him in cycling speed with a time of 2:01:24, according to the Ironman 70.3 St. George live blog. Transition 2 in Historic Downtown St. George, Utah, May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Alistair Brownlee, from Great Britain, transitions to the final phase, the run, in Saturday's Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Brownlee maintained the lead through the cycling phase in this, his first official Ironman 70.3 event. He's not new, however, to triathlons having won the Gold in both the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. Transition 2 in Historic Downtown St. George, Utah, May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Ironman 70.3 St. George competitors leaving Sand Hollow Reservoir on bikes, Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Ironman 70.3 St. George competitors leaving Sand Hollow Reservoir on bikes, Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Ironman 70.3 St. George competitors leaving Sand Hollow Reservoir on bikes, Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Ironman 70.3 St. George competitors leaving Sand Hollow Reservoir on bikes, Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Ironman 70.3 St. George competitors leaving Sand Hollow Reservoir on bikes, Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Age-group swimmers on course at Sand Hollow Reservoir Saturday in the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Age-group men head out on the cycling leg after the swim at Sand Hollow Reservoir, Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Age-group men head out on the cycling leg after the swim at Sand Hollow Reservoir, Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Age groupers transitioning onto bikes after the swim leg of the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Age groupers transitioning onto bikes after the swim leg of the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Double amputee Sidney Smith from Vernal, Utah, prepares to transition from the swim just completed to the cycling leg of the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Double amputee Sidney Smith from Vernal, Utah, after completing the swim leg of the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Holly Lawrence, who finished the race second (pro women) leads the pro class this year, exiting the swim leg of the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Her finish time last year in St. George was 4:18:04. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

One of the competitors in the first wave professional men's class exits the water at Sand Hollow Reservoir Saturday. From here he will transition to the cycling leg of the the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Professional class men's competitors nearing the end of the swim at Sand Hollow Reservoir Saturday for the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Bikes await riders. Competitors will transition from the swim at Sand Hollow Reservoir onto the cycling segment of the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George begins with a swim. Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Competitors gearing up and setting up at Sand Hollow State Park where the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George begins with a swim. Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Competitors gearing up and setting up at Sand Hollow State Park where the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George begins with a swim. Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Competitors readying for the swim at at Sand Hollow State Park where the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George begins with a swim. Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

First age-group class of men queue, waiting to enter the water at Sand Hollow Reservoir Saturday for the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

A professional class woman wades into the water at Sand Hollow Reservoir Saturday for the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Professional class men's and women's class competitors enter the water at Sand Hollow Reservoir Saturday for the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. First wave to start at 6:50 a.m., time advanced by 10 minutes due to forecasted winds. Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Water temperature Saturday morning is posted as 61 degrees at Sand Hollow Reservoir calm in this photo less than half an hour before the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George begins. First wave of professional triathletes will begin the swim at 6:50 a.m., time advanced by 10 minutes due to forecasted winds. Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

A family of competitors, L-R: Lynsey, Bret, Brian and David Butler, pose for a shot while waiting to being the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Competitors gearing up and setting up at Sand Hollow State Park where the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George begins with a swim. Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Professional class competitors enter the water at Sand Hollow Reservoir Saturday for the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. First wave to start at 6:50 a.m., time advanced by 10 minutes due to forecasted winds. Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Alistair Brownlee, from Great Britain, is the new Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Champion St. George, crossing the finish line in a new course record with Canadian Lionel Sanders right behind him. Brownlee maintained the lead through the triathlon, his first official Ironman 70.3 event. He's not new, however, to the sport. He won Gold medals in 2012 and 2016 at the Olympic Games. Finish line on Main Street in Historic Downtown St. George, Utah, May 6, 2017 | Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News

Alistair Brownlee, from Great Britain, carried the lead among men’s pros through the first bike split. Although it’s Brownlee’s first Ironman 70.3 event, he’s certainly not new to triathlons, having two Olympic gold medals earned in 2012 and 2016, a news release issued by the Ironman organization noted Friday.

“Wow, Brownlee is absolutely destroying the field here early in St. George,” Matt Lieto posted on the Ironman 70.3 St. George blog a few minutes before the men’s pros passed Bike Split 1. “Destroying. Everyone bejhind (sic) is losing time besides Sanders who has only lost 20 seconds in the first 11 miles. Hold on people, this guy is meant to put on a show today.”

At about 8:15 a.m., Holly Lawrence is holding a firm lead among women’s pros, according to the Ironman 70.3 St. George blog. Lawrence finished the Ironman 70.3 St. George last year in second place.

“At this point no one seems to have any sort of response to Holly as she continues to just ride away from the field in St. George,” Lieto posted on the blog just after 8:20 a.m.

At about 10:30 a.m. Brownlee, from Great Britain, and Sanders, from Canada, crossed the finish line with course records. Brownlee came out of the water with over 3 minutes lead, allowing him to maintain first position to the finish, despite Sanders clocking fastest times on both the bike and run phases of the course.

“The British are coming!” someone shouted from the press box as the two neared the finish line. Sebastian Kienle, from Germany, followed in third place a few minutes behind.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2017, all rights reserved.

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About the Author

Joyce Kuzmanic has been editor in chief of St. George News since 2012, having contributed as a reporter and assistant editor since the publication's inception in 2010. Before St. George News, Joyce has been a private business owner and enjoyed a long career as a paralegal in real estate, business and tax law transactions.
She enjoys hospitality, thinking, reading and adventuring in the great outdoors. Joyce currently resides in St. George with her husband and her dog, Scratch.

2 Comments

Kudos to the whole SG News coverage team. Great photos and tabulation of results.
This is an iconic event for SW Washington County, so we should be proud of how well it is organized, and executed each year.